Left-hander Vidal Nuño has been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk after clearing waivers, which opens a spot on the 40-man roster.
Nuño has pitched twice since the Orioles optioned him on June 20, working one-third of an inning on Friday and an inning on Sunday after coming off the inactive list. He underwent multiple MRIs to determine the cause of discomfort in his oblique. The Orioles said each test came back clean.
Nuño allowed home runs in all three appearances after the Orioles recalled him on June 16. He's 0-1 with a 10.43 ERA and 2.250 WHIP in 12 games.
The Orioles are listing Jeremy Hellickson and Kevin Gausman as their starters for the first two games of the weekend Red Sox series at Fenway Park. They have TBD for Sunday, but Chris Tillman is the likely choice.
The Red Sox are starting Rick Porcello, Eduardo Rodriguez and Doug Fister.
Ryan Flaherty is making his first start today since May 18 in Detroit and his first in right field this season. His started twice in right field in 2016.
Flaherty's only appearance since coming off the disabled list was pinch-running Friday night and scoring on Manny Machado's walk-off grand slam.
"Needed to get him out there," said manager Buck Showalter. "Been looking for a spot for him. A day game, off-day tomorrow. We know he's got a pretty good track record in Boston. I really don't want him to go into that series without any plate appearances.
The Maine native is a career .308/.356/.440 hitter with seven doubles, one triple, one home run and 11 RBIs in 30 career games at Fenway Park.
Reliever Miguel Castro is back with the club after going on the bereavement list for the funeral of a close family member. He's available to pitch today.
"He really appreciated us letting him go," Showalter said. "Not letting him go, but MLB working with us on that one. It meant a lot to him. Very close with his family. Sometimes, we think that in America we're the only ones that are close to our families. It's a poor reflection on us."
Showalter said shortstop J.J. Hardy felt good after playing six innings last night at Triple-A Norfolk.
"I think the biggest thing with him is the same thing he goes through in spring is getting his shoulder in shape," Showalter said. "Not that it hurts or anything. It just doesn't have that fluidity that he's looking for. So, that's what's going to take the most time, I think."
The Orioles are sifting through their options to join an expanded September roster. Showalter never wants to carry an excessive number of players. Only guys who have earned it and can contribute. A crowded clubhouse and bench aren't desirable.
"Dan (Duquette) and I touched on it a little bit yesterday," Showalter said. "I know he's kind of polling the Double-A and Triple-A managers about their recommendations. I think when we've heard from him, we'll sit down next week when we get back and try to finalize it. Bowie's got a shot at the playoffs, so you take all of those things into consideration.
"There are a number of players down there I like, but it's got to fit in a lot of different ways. They've got to serve a need up here and then try to bridge that gap between who might benefit by being here for a month and trying to get ahead of the curve a little bit from that adjustment period if we think they're going to be here next year.
"We haven't gotten that in-depth yet."
The Orioles will have a full 40-man roster again after they activate Hardy. They may need to clear more room.
"I know there are at least a couple guys that we're considering that aren't on the roster currently," Showalter said.
A new rule prohibits teams from sending down a player to an affiliate late in August that isn't making the playoffs and bringing him back as soon as rosters expand. Anyone send down on the 30th must remain off the major league roster for the minimum 10 days.
The Orioles may need to hold a minicamp to allow these players to do baseball activities instead of just sitting around and waiting to be called up.
"We all know who foots that bill," Showalter said.
Update: Trey Mancini hit a three-run homer off Daniel Gossett in the fourth inning to give the Orioles a 3-0 lead. Ryan Flaherty added a two-out RBI single to pad the margin.
Jonathan Schoop and Adam Jones singled before Mancini hit his 22nd home run. Mancini has four hits in his last eight at-bats.
Update II: Dylan Bundy retired 16 of 17 batters before Boog Powell singled with two outs in the sixth and scored on Marcus Semien's double to reduce the lead to 4-1.
Update III: Welington Castillo hit a two-run homer in the sixth to increase the lead to 6-1.
Update IV: Bundy was charged with three runs in six-plus innings, as the A's reduced the lead to 6-3. The last run scored on Bruce Maxwell's single off Mychal Givens, who struck out the next two batters.
Bundy didn't walk a batter and he struck out eight while registering his 17th quality start.
Update V: Matt Joyce hit a two-run homer off Givens in the eighth to cut the lead to 6-5.
Update VI: Chris Davis homered in the bottom of the eighth to give the Orioles a 7-5 lead, but Zach Britton has allowed two runs in the ninth for his first blown save since Sept. 20, 2015. We're tied.